Using Herbal Medicines Safely

Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.

There are some people who should definitely be more cautious when it comes to using herbal remedies. One group is those with high blood pressure. While some herbs can be used to effectively combat and ease high blood pressure, others can make it worse.

Luckily, the list isn’t too long, but there are some to note. Licorice and ephedra are the two with a significant amount of evidence linking them to high blood pressure. Other herbs are also suspected to have properties that can raise blood pressure, but significant research has not been doneto confirm this. Still, people with high blood pressure may want to avoid these: Ephedra, licorice, anise seed, St. John’s wort, capsaicin, guarana, ginseng, parsley, blue cohosh, vervain, coltsfoot, gentian, bayberry and chasteberry.

A second group of people are those with hypotension — low blood pressure. Many herbs can lower blood pressure, normally a good thing, but potentially harmful for someone with hypotension. The evidence is not great for many, but these herbs pose a risk: garlic, hawthorn, olive leaf, onion, hibiscus, Indian snakeroot, European mistletoe, reishi mushrooms and coleus forskohlii.

A big group of people who always have to be careful is that made up of those with kidney failure or disease. The main function of the kidneys is to clear waste products from the body. When you suffer from renal disease, your body is not as effective with dealing with waste products or minor toxins. Unfortunately, this means that a lot of substances, including herbs, are not safe for use.

One class of herbs is suspected to have damaging effects on kidney patients: diuretics. Because diuretics force more waste from the body, they can increase the speed at which the kidneys have to work to clean the waste products. When the kidneys don’t work properly, this aggravates them, increasing symptoms and moving up how soon dialysis will be needed. For this reason, diuretics and diuretic herbs like bucha leaves, juniper berries and parsley should be avoided by people suffering from kidney disease.

ABOUT DOCTORS HEALTH PRESS

HEALTHY LIVING

CONNECT WITH US

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state, nor should it be considered a substitute for medical care from your doctor. On any matter relating to your health or well-being—and prior to undertaking any health-related activity—consult an appropriate health professional. The opinions herein are exactly that, they are the opinions of the author. Doctors Health Press and its employees are not responsible for medically unsupervised activities that could be harmful to your health. Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. All of the Doctors Health Press publications come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your newsletter, you can simply cancel your subscription and receive a pro-rated refund on all undelivered issues. For our books and special reports, we will give you a full refund of your purchase price within 30 days of your order. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state, nor should it be considered a substitute for medical care from your doctor. On any matter relating to your health or well-being—and prior to undertaking any health-related activity—consult an appropriate health professional. The opinions herein are exactly that, they are the opinions of the author. Doctors Health Press and its employees are not responsible for medically unsupervised activities that could be harmful to your health. Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. All of the Doctors Health Press publications come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your newsletter, you can simply cancel your subscription and receive a pro-rated refund on all undelivered issues. For our books and special reports, we will give you a full refund of your purchase price within 30 days of your order. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service.